Igniter.



A. B. yHERRICK.

IGNITER.

APPLlcATloN mgm Nov. 29. 1912.

Patented Marfmme.

3 SHEETS-SHETI W/ rA/Essc M 7% d( ventions.

ALBERT is.I HERRICK, or New YORK,

N.- Y., AssIGNon To Marmo.' Massima, or

r'A-wToKnT, RHODE ISLAND. y

IGNITER. l

Specification of Letters Patent.

I Patented Mar. 7, 1916.

Application led Novcmberi29, 1912. "Ser1a1No.'783,976. n

Toy all whom it may concern: Y

Beit known'that I, ALBERT' B. HERRIOK, a citizen of the United States, and a resi-v dent of'fNew York, county'of New York, and State of New York, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Igniters," (Case-13,) of which thefollowing is a speciication, theprinciple'of the inventionbeing herein explained and the best mode in which I ,have contemplated applying that principle, so as to'distinguish it from otherin- The subject ofthe present invention isl an induction mechanism adapted particularly for use in an igniter-which will be attached to an engine cylinder in the position usually taken by the spark plug, the compression of the engine being used to furnish the power ."necessary to perform the movementswhich are required in the induction mechanism.

In other words, 'the device is in a sense a self-contained magneto attached to a .spark plug and adapted to be automatically oper- `ated by the compression of the gases in the cylinder of an internal'combustion engine, although it will be `understood that other .usesfor the mechanism will readily suggest themselves.

To the accomplishment of the foregoing and related ends, Asaid invention, then, consists of the means hereinafter fully described and particularly pointed out in the,- claims. ,N J

The annexed drawings and the following description. set forth in detail certain mechanism embodying the invention, such dis-V closed means constituting, however, but one of the various mechanical lformsin which the principle ,of the invention maybe used. In said annexed drawings: Figure' 1l is a central vertical section through one form of myinvention; Fig. 2 is a`section on the line 2*-2, in Fig'. 1; Fig. f3 -is a view .in perspec' tive' of the induction coil and the contact members attached -to the ends 'of the magnet; Figs. 4 and 5 arex end elevations of the mechanism showing the induction coil in its upper and lower position; 6- is a diagram' showing the method of wiring thedevice;'F 7- is a side elevation ofa modified form of my invention; Fig. 8 is a VView siini"` .lar to Fig. 7 but showing the induction coil in its raised l"posi-tion; Figs. `-9 and 10 areviews corresponding tovFigs. 7 andf-8,.show

inga 'third Vform of 'the invention, "and Fig. 1l is a Fig. i. ,g

, In the construction shown in Fig. 1`,.I`at

tach to la hollow spark plug 1 a brass plate -or base member 2 upon which will be mount- 60 ed the contacts 3. and 4 attached to tli'eends of a maget. The magnet isrp'referably. laminated or'sectional, as shown' in Figs. land 2. lUpon the top of the,membersiand.l l

section onA the line 11:711, in

4', I attach a secondV brass 'plate 6 u'p'on 615v which there ismounted a lubricating cup 7, ,the construction of which need not be explained in detail. The magnets 5 are preferably. of .U-shape and extend horizontally around an -induction coil', consisting 'Y0 preferably of a primary coil.9 only," and -a soft iron core 10; The induction coil is provided at its top and bottom with platesll and l2 attached to the core.'- .To the b0t tom plate 12 Ais attached a piston member 13 75, slidably'mounted in the hollow chamber formed in` the spark plug and'adapted to be operated by the' compression in the. engine cylinder. The piston will be lubricated from the oil cup 7 by,suitable mechanism. 80' Attached to the piston 13 are a spring arm 14 terminating ina contact 15 and 'a rodv 16 terminating in a contact 17, adapted to norf mally engage the contact 15, thus Vforming a y (closed circuit, as both contact members are 85 -suitablyconnected to the'induction coil, the

connection being-illustrated in Figv VThe spring larm 14 extendsarouiid the4 contactf` 15 and engages a collar 18 slidably mounted upon a rod 19 extending. downwardly from 90 the end of thejspark plug. The endl of the rod 19 is threaded and is engaged by a. stop in the form of a 'nut 20. The spring arm 14 is engaged between the collar 18 and/the nut C' 20, a spring 21. normally retaining the collar 95 18 in its lower position against the nut 20.

The magnets may be suitablyzinclosed ina casing (not shown)jw.hich; will preferably"be\ attached to the members 2 and 5 formin the bottom and top plates 'respectivelyfo tlie`10 device. v-Af sleeve 22 is' suitably attached to the top and bottom plates and. extends ver.'- Jtically between the same 'inclosing 'a rod 23 provided with a handle 24 and attached at its lower end by means of a pin' 25 to aiever 105 26 which is 'pivoted' intermediate its ends\ about a pin 27 mounted in an extension of the bottom member 2. The Alever #26 fterminates ina yoke 45, each arm of the yoke engaging a pin 28 which is slidably mounted -110 vin the member 2, the 'pins-- being attached to A the plate 12 at the bottom of the induction coil An adjusting member 29, lin the form of a set screw, is mounted in the top"5 and is adapted to bear against a spring 30, also attached to the top member 5, and adapted ito bear against the plate 11 on the top of -the induction coil. The action of the spring 30 tends to retain ,the induction coil in its operating the induction coil upward through "I lie'core 10 is frmed at either end with contact members 32. and 33 which lie in par'- allel planes, and are directed-infoblique di-A rections, thus forming substantiall'yva letter The 'contact members' 3 and 4 on the "ends of the magnets are formed with coml` plementary contacts 35, 36," 37 and 38, which are adaptedto be engaged by the ,contacts i 32 and 33 in the' various positions of the induction coil. In the normal position of the induction) coil, showi: in yFig.`4, the face 39 ofthe contact 32 engages the face 37 of the contact 4; also `the low'er face 40 ofthe co n` tact 33eng-ages the face 36 of the contact 3. The, magnetic circuit is'then closed, the flux 1. being .from the north poleofthe magnet -through the induction coilin the direction direction' of the magnetic flug is therefore reversed,'the direction now bemgshoWn by indicated'by the arrow in Fig. '4, and re-v es.

turned f to the south pole'of the magnet.

Upon "the operation of the induction coil into its upper position, the contact face 41'v of the contact'32 engages theface 35 of the contact 3, while the [contact face 3 3 engages the contact face 37 on the member 4. ET he fthe arrows in Fig. 5.- -Inthis way a very 'tive -maximum', which is' the current induced In thecoll as the inductioncoil ismoved 1n -tov its normal position, tdafne'gative maXimum, whichis the currentfi'nduced in the coil as 'the inductioncoil is moved 'into its raised position shown in Fig.` 5. As the -in- -tion of the induction coil 'the teeth 54 and 4duction coil is raised, however, the-rod 16 I .isalso raised, as' well as-the spring arm 14. e .spring 14 will normally ,be slightly s enger than the spring'21, so' that the contact"15"will remain in engagemen .with the .contact117` during the'first portion .of the upward. movement of the'coil.` As soon,

- I however, as the spring 21 is compressed, the 6.0:

' r'igidityjof the. same is increasedfand it 'becomes stronger than the spring Y14. At this ilpoint, therefore, the spring arm 14- and consequently thecontact v15 will` begin to lag 'and a sharp break will beffproduce'd between the'contacts 15 "and 17, thus Aproducing'a spark'between the terminals of the plug. If

'it is desired to produce a sparkwhenthe engine is not running, it is only necessary to depress the handle 24, thus giving the samel upwar movement to the .induction coil as is produced by the compression ,in the engine cylinder. A current is therefore induced in the'induction coil and the operation is eX-1 actlyas has been described above, the same spark beingv produced atthe terminals of the plug. A

In the present mechanism it is ,unneces Figs. 1 'to 6 inclusive, is adapted to operate as a low tension/ignition device,'in which I type of system the circuit is 'broken'in-the cylinder, in which case a hightension current is not required to bridge'the gap between. the .spark plug terminals. If desired, however, the mechanism-may be used` g for high tension ignition, in which case a high tension secondary coil will be' required,

L 'In Figsfto 10 inclusive, I show alternative' forms of construction designed to be used as high tension ignition devices. Ini Fig. '4'. I show a spark plug 50`which is hollowed out to form a chamber 51; in which there will operate a piston 52. The. piston 52 is attachedto anfinducti'on coil 53".pro

vided with .-a soft iron core, preferably laminated, having contact pieces. or' teeth 54 and 55 formed at either` en d of the same. A

magnet 56 is provided, extending around the induction coil-and being rovided with conadapted. to be magnetically engaged by the teeth on the induction coil' when `th'e same tacts or polar faces 5 58, 59 'and '60,'-

spark plug 50'. The'terminals of thespark plugs. 62 and 63 are attached, -oneto the Aspark. plug proper andl one to the induc-y "tion c oil', the latter being extended through a tube. 64 about which the Apiston slides. The terminals are therefore maintainedat a predetermined ldistance from each other,

` which distance `is not varied by the-V action of' theinduction coil. r"Inthe lower posiand S in Figs. 7 and 8, the magnetic .flux

willfth'en pass from the face 5'( to the tooth j 54 of the core, thro/ugh the core and back to the magnet' through `the tooth 55 and face 60. .When thelinduction coil is raised into the position shown vin Fig. 8, the magnetic flux passes from the face 59`to the tooth 55,

upwardly throughv the core .and back tothe magnetthrough the tooth 54 and face 5 8,

the teeth on the-core and the polar faces onthe magnet differ from that shown in the two previous forms. In -`this form I also show my preferred form of piston member and hollow chamber in the spark plug. The

' form of thepola-r, faces and the teeth is `.sub-

. stantially like that shownin Figs. 7 and 8, e'xcept that the magnet is cut away to form the polar faces 90, 91, 92 and^93, which are adaptedl to be engaged by the projecting teeth 94, 95, 96 and 97 on the' core.l The' direction of the magnetic iiux will be reversed.

l by the operation ofthe induction coil, the

direction of the flux being shown by the' arrows in Figsf, 9 andjlO. The spark plug is hollowed out to form anenlarged cham-A cber 100 which is provided ,with a beveled shoulder 101 at" its upper end and an' oppol.30. sitely beveled shoulder 102 at its lower end..

The "piston is provided with a complementary beveled portion 103 adapted, when the piston is raised, to contact the shoulder 101, thus providing a secureclosure yof the aperturel in the spark plug and preventingthev entiince" .of any of the hot burning gases into the space "surrounding the induction l coil and the magnets. In this way the life of the magnets and the induction coil is in- 40 creased, asthe' action of the hot gases upon .the -same tends to break down the insulation v and to demagnetize the magnets.

x The presenty invention provides an automatically operating combination of magneto andv spark plug in `which the induction coil is reciprocated to cause the establishment of a current therein, which is rsecured bythe arrangement of the magnet and the contacts Ion .the magnet and core, thearrangement being 'such as vto cause a reversal- "cof the magnetic fluX'tli'rough the coil.' The travel of the coilis slight and the improved type of piston and chamber preventsetheL escape of any ofthe burning .gas from the 5 engine cylinder.

Othaer modes of applying the principleof my invention Imay be.l employed instead of the one explained; 'change being'made as regards the mechanism herein disclosed, proplug adapted-5to 1' enter an aperture in anl engine cylinder; a member inountedin. said spark plug andadapted tobe actuated by the compression in such` enginecylinder; an induction coil including a laminated core l provided with spacedcontac'ts ateitler end,

said induction coil being lconnected to said'y member insaid'plug to be operated thereby-5V a' permanent magnethaving its poles disposed at'either .side oflsaid induction coil, each pole being provided with spaced contacts adapted to magnetically engage cer` tain of saidcontacts on said core; said contacts being so disposed thatimovement of said induction coil reverses the direction .of the magnetic flux through said induction coil;said induction coil being suitably connected to the terminals of said spark plug.

2. The combinaticn of 'a `hollow spark plug adapted qto enteran aperture in an engine cylinder; a member spark plug and adapted to be actuated by the compression' in such enginegcylinder; `an

.induction coilincluding a lfw tension primaryv coil and a laminated core,- such vcore end, said induction coil being connected to said member in said plug to` be operated thereby;. a permanent magnet having its poles disposed at either side ofsaid induc- .ti'on coil, each pole being provided with spaced faces adapted. to magnetically` engage certain ofl said teeth ",on said-core; said faces and teeth being so disposedv that movement of ,said induction coil rever-ses the direction onl said spark coil; contacting terminals of the magnetic iux' throughl said induction-v mounted in said j being. provided with spaced teeth -at either plug connected-to said induction fcoil ,and

' means operable by the .movement of said member insaid spark plug andadapted to ,break the electrical Acircuit at said terminals.

3. The combination -of a4 hollow 'spark plug adapted to enter anaperture inf-an e'ngine cylinder; a sparkiplug and adapted to be actuatedby the compression in such engine cylinder; a n induction coil including a low tension primary'coil being` provided withspaced `teeth at either end, said induction coil being connected to having^its poles disposedA at either sideof lsaid in uction coil, each pole being provided with spaced faces adapted t9 enga e certain of said teethHon said core; said member mounted in Asaid r and a laminated core, such lcore aces and 11e said memberv in said :plug to. befoperated v thereby; a permanent laminated 'magnet izo teeth being so disposed tlatmovement-of I. said induction the magnetic `Huitl througlih said "induction 90' vided the means sta'ited by any'of the follow-C' coil; normally contacting terminals for said ing claims or the equivalent of such stated iimeans be employed.-

I therefore particularly point out and distinctly claim as my invention 65 1. The combination oaw hollow spark spark' plug, connected tosaid induction coil, one of said terminals being attached to said coil vreverses, the direction of memberinlsaid fspark plug and being voperbreaking the ated the'reby, -thus electr-ical circuit atsaid terminals.-

4. The icombination of a hollow spark plug provided witha shoulder extending into such hollow portion; a magnet attached to said spark plug; an induction coil reciprocably mounted between the polesv of said magnet, means adapted to reverse the direction of magnetic iiux through said induction coil upon reciprocation of the same; a piston slidably mounted in said spark plug,

said piston beingattached to said induction coil and being operable by the compression in the engine cylinder; and a shoulder formed on said piston adapted to engage such shoulder on said spark plug, thereby preventing the leakage of pressure-fluid past said piston.

5. The combination of plug provided with an upwardly beveled concentric shoulder extending into such hollow portion; a magnet attached to said spark. plug; an induction coil reciprocably A mounted between the poles of said magnet,

means adapted to reverse the direction of magnetic vfiux throughI saldv lnduction coil upon reciprocation vof the \same; a piston j slidably mounted in said spark plug, said preventing-lie leakage piston being attached to said inductioncoil and being operable by the compression in the enginecylinder; and a similarly'beveled disk :formed on Asaid Piston and adapted upon actuation of saidpiston to seat against' su'ch shoulder on said `sarlr plug, thereby of gas past said piston.

`6. The combination off' a hollow spark -plug'adapted to` enter an .aperture in the engine cylinder; a magnet mounted on said plug; a piston reciprocably mounted in the hollow portion of said spark plug and operated by the compression in the engine cylinder; a low tension induction coil reciprocaf bly mounted between the poles of said magnet and adapted when reciprocat'ed tofso engage said poles thata current is induced in said coil,` said coil being' attached to, and operated by said piston; a spring arm terminal attached to said piston and connected to said coil; a second rigid terminal attached t Plug to said piston', connected to said coil and normally in contactV with said spring'y terminal; and means adapted to restrain said spring arm upon upward movement ,of said piston, thereby breaking said circuit.

so engage said poles that a current is induced in said'coil, said coil being attached to, and operated by, said piston; ya spring -ment of said a hollow spark` mounted in the arm terminalattached to said piston and connected to said coil; a second rigidftermi- Y `nal attached to said piston, connected to said coil and normally in contactPwith said spring terminal; and adjustable means adapted to restrain said spring arm upon upward movepiston, thereby breaking said circuit. i

8. The combination ofi a hollow spark plug adapted to enter-an aperture in the engine cylinder; a magnet mounted on said plug; a piston reciprocably/l mounted in the hollow portion of said spark plug and `o erated by the compression in the engine -cy inder, a low tension induction coil reciprocably mounted between the poles of said magnet andadapted when reciprocated to so engage said poles that a' current is induced in said coil, said coil being attached to, and operated by, said piston; al spring Jarm terminal attached to said pls'ton' an connected to said coil; a second rigid terminal attached to said piston,` connected to said coil and normally l1n contact with said spring terminal; a threaded rod attached to said plug; the" outer end of said spring arm being apertured to loosely engage about said rod; -a nut adjustably secured to said rod in contact withosaid spring arm; and resilient means normally retaining said spring arm in contact with said nut. V 9. `The combination of af' hollow spark plug adapted to enteran aperture in'the en-,` gine cylinder; a magnet mounted on said' plug; a piston reciprocably mountedv in the hollow portion ofgsaid spark .plug and operated by the compression in the engine cylinder; a low tension induction coil reciprocably mounted between the poles of said" magnet and adapted'. when reciprocated to so engage said poles that a current is induced in said coil, said 'coil-being attached to, and operated by, said piston; a spring,

arm terminal attached to said piston and connected to said coil; a second rigid terminal attached to said piston, connected to.

said coil and normally 1n contact with said lspring terminal; a threaded rodattachedto said plug; the outer end of said spring arm being apertured to loosely engage about said rod; a nut adjustably secured to said rod in contact with said spring arm; a collar" slidably mountedy onsaid rod; and a coiled spring disposed about said 'rod between said plug and-sald collar, thereby -normally retaining saidspring arm in contact with said nut.

10. The combination of 'a plug adapted to enter an aperture in the engine cylinder; a magnet mounted Aon said plug; a piston reciprocably mounted in the hollow jportion of said spark plug and operated by the compression in the engine cyl- ,l

inder; a low tension induction coil reciprocably mounted between the poles of said hollow spark umagnet and 'adapted when reciprocated to so engage said poles that a current is induced in said coil, said coil being attached to, and o erated by, said piston; a sprin -arm terminal attached to said piston an connected to said coil; a second' rigid terminal attached to said piston, connected to saidcoil and normally in contact with said spring terminal; a threaded rod attached to/ said plug; the outer end of said spring arm l being apertured to loosely engage about said rod; a nut adjustably secured to said rod in contact with said spring arm; a collar'slidably mounted on said rod; and a -coiled spring disposed aboutsaid rod between said plug and said collar; thereby normally retaining said spring arm in contact with said nut, said spring arm being slightly more l coiled spring becomes of a magnet, an induction coil reciprocably connected to said coil; ysaid coil an rigid than said coiled s ring, whereby upon upward movement o said piston, said spring arm will remain in contact with said iixed' terminal"l until theb tension yon said greater than' the tension on said spring arm. fr,

11. In asparking device, the combination; ,of a magnet, an induction coil reciprocably mounted in said' magnet; sparking points magnet being so formed that reciprocation .of said coil induces a current therein; and manually operated means adapted to reciprocate said coil.'

12. In la sparking device, the combination of amagnet, an induction coil reciprocably .mounted in` said magnet; sparking points'r connected to said coil; said coil and magnet being so formedthat reciprocation of said coil induces a current therein; a pivoted lever having one,` end enga and means 'for oscillating sai lever,1thereby reciprocating said coil.-

13. In a sparking device, the combination g said coil coil induces a current therein; a pivoted lever having one end engaging'said coil; and a rodv enggin the free end of said lever and adap w en operated to oscillat-e said lever, thereby reciprocating said coil.

14. In a sparking device, the combination of a magnet,-an induction coil reciprocablyA mountedin said magnet; sparking points connected to said coil; said'coil and magnet being so formed that reciprocation of said coil induces a current therein; a pivoted lever having one end engaging said coil; a rod engaging the free end of said lever and adapted when operated to oscillate said lever, thereby reciprocating said coil; and resilient means adapted to return said coil to its normal position.

15. In a sparking device, the combination of a ma et; an induction coil reciprocably mounte in lsaid magnet; sparking points 4connected to said coil; said coil and magnet at one end by said rod and at the other by said coil, whereby operation of said rod reclprocates sald coll; and a s rlng mounted on said ,casing anden a'glng said coil, said spring .being adapte' to return said coil to its normal position.

Signed by me thls 21" day of November, 1912.

. ALBERT B. HERRICIL D. T. DAvms,

HORACE B. Far. 

